Invitation to a restaurant

M. S.: Pedro, I’d like to invite you to have dinner with me this evening. What would you say to 6 p.m.?

P. M.: I’d love to, but I’m afraid I’m too tired today.

M. S.: So, what about tomorrow at six?

P. M.: Well, that would be very nice. I’d be very glad to have dinner with you.

M. S.: OK. What kind of food do you like?

P. M.: I’d like to try local cuisine, if you don’t mind.

M. S.: Well, then I’ll book a table at the Galwin restaurant in the High Street.

P. M.: Thank you. That would be a pleasure. Could you tell me how to get there?

M. S.: Don’t worry about it. We can meet at your hotel at 5.30 and go to the restaurant together. I’ll give you a lift in my car.

P. M.: That would be really great. Thank you very much!

At the restaurant

M. S.: Well, Pedro, what shall we have? Would you like a three-course dinner?

P. M.: OK, that’s a good idea. And I’m thirsty too.

M. Stewart: Than let’s a glass of mineral water or orange juice.

P. M.: I’d prefer orange juice with ice.

M. S.: Waiter! Could we have iced orange juice and a glass of mineral water, please? Now let’s see the menu and here is the wine list too. How about some hard drink?

P. M.: I wouldn’t mind having a red dry wine.

M. S.: So it’s one wine. And whiskey and soda for me. Would you like any starters?

P. M.: A salad would do, I think.

M. S.: And I’ll have shrimps. Would you like any soup? As for me I’ll have mushroom soup.

P. M.: I like your choice. I’d rather have the same.

M. S.: And what about the main course? What would you say to roast-beef, fried potatoes and green peas?

P. M.: I’d prefer a veal cutlet with stuffed olives.

M. S.: OK. Would you like to order dessert now?

P. M.: Why not. I’ll have a raspberry cake and a white coffee. And what about you?

M. S.: I’d rather have black coffee.

(After dinner)

M. S.: Waiter! Could you bring us the bill, please?

P. M.: The dinner was lovely, thank you. Let me pay for it.

M. S.: No, no way, this is on me.

12. Work in pairs and role-play the following situations. Use the phrases contained in the Appendix V.

Situation 1. Meeting a foreign partner for the first time.

Imagine that your foreign partner has just come to your country to visit your company. You should welcome your visitor, ask him/her about his/her trip and hotel and offer him/her something to drink. Your part

Situation 2. Invitation to a restaurant.

You are inviting your business partner to a restaurant. You should ask what cuisine he/she prefers and suggest the time for dinner. Your partner should say what kind of food he/she likes most and accept the invitation or suggest another time for dinner. After fixing the time for dinner you may suggest going to the restaurant together.

Situation 3. At the restaurant.

Your business partner and you have just arrived at the restaurant. You take your seats and start discussing the menu. You are going to have a three-course dinner. Discuss what starters, main courses, desserts and drinks you are going to have. Then call for the waiter and make your orders. After dinner ask the waiter to bring the bill and say that you’ll pay for it yourself even if your partner won’t agree. Choose the food from the following menu:

Restaurant menu

Starters

Vegetable salad with olive-oil dressing

Caesar with tiger shrimps

Olivier salad with veal tongue

Smoked salmon

Oyster in white wine

Sandwich with red caviar

Ham and cheese sandwich

Main course

Meat

Chicken wings with carrots and celery

Spaghetti in white sauce with stewed beef

Grilled chicken breast with asparagus

Fried pork with tomato sauce and basil

Fish

Grilled salmon with spinach and cream sauce

Tuna steak with hot celery salad

Shrimps with vegetable noodles and ginger sauce

Sturgeon, stuffed with fried tomatoes, onion, champignons and herbs

Garnish

Fried rice

Mashed potatoes

Noodles with mushrooms

Boiled beans with parsley and dill

Desserts

Sorbet (apple, lime, mango, raspberry)

Fruit ice-cream (oranges and Chinese gooseberry)

Chocolate cakes

Biscuits with nuts and cinnamon

Empanadas with apples

Drinks

Soft Strong

Strawberry cocktail with milk White wine

Chocolate cock tail Semi-dry red wine

Orange juice Whiskey

Apple juice Beer

White coffee Banana liquor

Russian tea Pineapple liquor

Unit 7